Donner Pass Thunder

Witness vintage and contemporary film and video as Southern Pacific trains do battle with a 7000 foot climb up 2.42% grades. This exciting video combines old film and video shot over decades of Donner Pass action. See Black Widow and Red Gray F units and ALCO PAs in freight and passenger operations. The history of the old Central Pacific and the Big Four is reviewed and the comparison of the Donner and the Feather River Route is made with vintage Western Pacific diesel footage. We take several trips over the "Hill" and fight snow and show some awesome power lash-ups. The snow-shed history, reefer block business, locomotive development, double track construction and the connection to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge is also covered. This video is loaded with GP-9 and SD-7 and 9 action plus great coverage of old Sacramento, Roseville and the Roseville humpyard before its demise. The action on the grades will give you an idea of the beauty and challenges of America's first railline connecting it with California. Southern Pacific's empire grew from its ambitious beginnings and grew the economy of the west with it. Don't miss this great American railroad story.